Person image retrieval apparatus

Abstract

According to the present invention, face parts to be compared are set by the comparison target setting section based on the number of images of a group of search target images. Then, a retrieval target image and each image of the group of search target images is compared by the set face parts. An image with a particular correlation is determined to be a similar image and retrieved from the group of images to be compared. Thereby, it is possible to perform quick retrieval based on the number of images of the group of search target images.

1. A person image retrieval apparatus which retrieves an image in which the same person shown in a retrieval target image is shown, from a group of search target images, the person image retrieval apparatus comprising:
 a comparison target setting section which sets face parts to be compared; 
 a comparison/determination section which compares a face of the person shown in the retrieval target image and the face of the person shown in each image of the group of search target images by the face parts set by the comparison target setting section and determines an image with a particular correlation to be a similar image; 
 an output section which outputs the image determined by the comparison/determination section to be a similar image on a display device; 
 a re-retrieval instruction section which instructs a re-retrieval; and 
 a device where a re-retrievable number is set in advance, and when the re-retrieval is instructed by the re-retrieval instruction section over the re-retrievable number, and error display is outputted on the display device, 
 wherein the comparison target setting section adds and sets a face part to be compared each time when the re-retrieval is instructed by the re-retrieval instruction section. 
 
     
     
       2. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the re-retrieval instruction section comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       3. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the re-retrieval instruction section comprises a re-retrieval execution button. 
     
     
       4. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein re-retrieval is instructed by a key operation of a keyboard. 
     
     
       5. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a comparison target extraction section that extracts the face parts set by the comparison target setting section from the retrieval target image, and a target image from the group of search target images,
 wherein the comparison target extraction section extracts the face parts in response to a re-retrieval instructed by the re-retrieval instruction section. 
 
     
     
       6. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a face part being set as a comparison target includes at least eyes, mouth, and nose, and
 wherein the comparison target setting section adds and sets a face part to be compared each time when the re-retrieval is instructed by the re-retrieval instruction section. 
 
     
     
       7. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a device where a re-retrievable number is set in advance, and when the re-retrieval is instructed by the re-retrieval instruction section over the re-retrievable number, an error display is outputted on the display device. 
     
     
       8. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the comparison target setting section sets eyes as a comparison target in a first search. 
     
     
       9. The person image retrieval apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the comparison target setting section sets eyes as a comparison target in a first search.